Deciding On A Renovator

Once you have interviewed renovators, checked their references and received written quotes from those you are interested in hiring, it's time to decide who will be doing your job.

Renovators should be allowed adequate time to prepare a quote for your renovation and you must ensure that each renovator is working with the same plans and specifications. For all but the simplest projects, you should expect the renovator to present their quote in person, so that they can discuss each aspect with you and answer any question you may have.

Once you have met with the renovators who are quoting on your job, you should review each quote carefully before deciding who to hire.

You should compare every aspect of their quotes-the description of the work, specifications (materials and products), price and allowances, deposit and payment milestones, project schedule and any additional recommendations or ideas for your renovation.

You should also review the information you collected during and after your initial round of renovator interviews - your initial impressions of each renovator, and what their previous customers had to say about them.

You must decide the importance of each aspect of your evaluation. While overall price is important, it is only one factor. Many homeowners who have successfully completed major home renovations speak about the importance of "peace of mind"-working with a renovator they trusted and felt confident in.

If you have a particularly strong sense of confidence in one of the renovators, they are probably your best choice, even if their price is not the lowest. In the end, you should choose the renovator based on your sense of the overall value they can provide to you.